Improved communications for ambulances

[five_alarm]

INTERNATIONAL, USA - Researchers are developing technology for ambulances to improve communications and perhaps more importantly, place virtual doctors inside in transit. Mountains, valleys, bad weather and long distances between hospitals make communication with emergency room physicians spotty at best and nonexistent at worst. "It always seems to happen when we've got a critical patient and you've really got to talk to a doctor," said Jim Effinger, a paramedic with 23 years experience in rural Pennsylvania. The U.S. Office of Naval Research is funding research for the First Responder Emergency Communications-Mobile with hopes to one day apply it to the battlefield. The FREC-M uses an international maritime satellite and varying frequencies to bridge communication gaps. It has multiple cameras inside and outside a standard ambulance, which looks like any other, save for several satellite and GPS domes on top.

Source: cnews.canoe.ca (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews/NewStuff/2004/12/23/795387.html&linkid=1258&parent=news(headlines)&)